Mount Sanford

The feel

Mount Sanford is 16,237 ft and dominates the northwest corner of the Wrangell Mountains, about 40 miles east of Glennallen. Its crown is perpetually shrouded in snow and ice, and above 8,000 ft most of the mountain is covered by a perennial icefield.

It rises 8,000 ft in 1 mile, one of the steepest gradients in North America. A great view of Sanford, Drum and Wrangell fills the windshield during the final 10-mile drive east into Glennallen on the Glenn Highway.

What to expect

What it is

A 16,237 ft volcano in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, across the Copper River from the highway system.

Parking

Many pullouts along the Glenn Highway and the Tok Cutoff Highway toward Gakona and Chistochina give different views. Gulkana Airport, a few miles north of Glennallen, and miles 1, 20 and 58 along the Tok Cutoff are good viewpoints.

Hazards

Climbing it means crossing the Copper River or being dropped off by small aircraft.

Season and access

Driving south on the Tok Cutoff, Sanford first appears at about mile 70 and stays in view most of the way to Gakona and Glennallen. The mountain is also a popular flightseeing destination.

Mingo says

Cloud cover is the only thing that hides this view, so pick a clear day for the drive. Pull off at one of the Tok Cutoff viewpoints to see it from different angles.

Before you go

• Call the park at (907) 822-5234 about flightseeing or climbing.
• Plan the drive south on the Tok Cutoff, where Sanford first shows at about mile 70.
• Stop at Gulkana Airport, a few miles north of Glennallen, for one of the best views.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.